Job Description

Global consumer goods company is seeking an accomplished, results-driven Distribution Center Operations Manager to lead and optimize daily operations within a high-volume, fast-paced distribution center. This is a key leadership opportunity for an operations professional who excels at developing teams, driving operational performance, and implementing strategies that improve productivity, efficiency, quality, and customer service.

The Operations Manager will oversee multiple functional areas within the distribution center, providing strategic direction and hands-on leadership to ensure operational objectives are consistently achieved. This individual will lead through a team of supervisors and frontline leaders, fostering a culture of accountability, employee engagement, safety, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Distribution Center Leadership & Execution

• Direct and oversee daily distribution center operations, ensuring consistent achievement of productivity, quality, inventory accuracy, safety, and customer service objectives.
• Lead multiple operational departments, balancing resources and workloads to meet business demands and service commitments.
• Develop and execute operational plans aligned with business forecasts, volume projections, labor requirements, and productivity expectations.
• Establish clear performance expectations and drive accountability across all levels of the organization.

People Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, develop, coach, and mentor a team of salaried supervisors and frontline leaders to build a high-performing operational organization.
• Provide leadership and oversight for a large indirect workforce, promoting employee engagement, retention, accountability, and professional development.
• Support workforce planning, staffing strategies, labor allocation, and performance management initiatives.
• Build a collaborative environment that encourages ownership, teamwork, communication, and operational excellence.

Performance Management & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, quality, productivity, labor efficiency, and service levels.
• Identify performance gaps, establish corrective action plans, and drive sustainable improvements.
• Lead process improvement initiatives utilizing Lean principles, Kaizen events, and/or Six Sigma methodologies.
• Identify opportunities to reduce operating costs, improve workflows, maximize labor utilization, and increase overall distribution center efficiency.
• Leverage data and operational metrics to support informed decision-making and drive measurable business results.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Compliance

• Partner with Safety, Human Resources, Facilities, Loss Prevention, Inventory Control, Transportation, and other business leaders to support facility-wide objectives.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, safety standards, and established operating procedures.
• Communicate operational performance, business priorities, challenges, and improvement initiatives to senior leadership and frontline teams.
• Maintain a safe, clean, organized, and productive work environment while reinforcing a strong safety-first culture.

Qualifications & Experience

• High School Diploma or GED required; Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Logistics, or a related discipline preferred. Master's degree is a plus.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in distribution, warehouse, logistics, manufacturing, or fulfillment operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading large, high-volume operational teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience directly managing employees and providing operational oversight to indirect employees.
• Proven track record of delivering results across productivity, quality, safety, labor management, and operational performance metrics.
• At least one year of experience utilizing performance metrics, process improvement tools, or Lean methodologies to improve operational results.
• Demonstrated ability to scope, lead, and implement process improvement initiatives through Lean, Kaizen, and/or Six Sigma methodologies.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities, with the ability to identify root causes and implement effective solutions.
• Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to meet or exceed departmental performance objectives while balancing multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Experience with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Labor Management Systems (LMS) preferred.